[PRP] Beauty and a Beast (See Inside)

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Players Involved

 

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'Find another specimen for the family. You best make sure that beauty is also found inside as well as outside.'

It was those words that Nemesis Dazbog had ringing in his ears as he had set off on another mission for the family. The idea of bringing yet another individual into the fold was daunting. Surely father had to know that not everyone would like being brought into the family. Why also was it his task to seek out a new victim? Most were repelled by his appearance. Maybe that was the true test. For if he could find an individual that was not repulsed by his looks than that would be a suitable candidate. He had been sent on this mission before with nary a hint of luck. Hardly anyone wanted to deal with a stallion that had nearly no feathers left on his wings. He truly felt as if he were the ugliest member of the family. There was nothing in his future it seemed besides being his father's gopher.

Nemesis prowled through the darker patches of shadow while keeping a sharp eye on his surroundings. There had to be someone out there that would make his father happy with his selection. It all came down to the initial reaction and following conversation that would provide some indication that would give Nemesis insight that he had found a potential candidate. The stallion paused and scented the breeze around him. His front claws drew furrows in the dirt as he stood straighter. The sound of foliage snapping nearby caused his ears to p***k forward in alertness. A muffled exclamation caused the stallion to remain hidden. The unknown traveler was definitely a mare. How could he play this meeting? Uncertainty plagued his mind for but a moment as a beam of sunlight illuminated the golden beauty that had just emerged from the trees ahead. Nemesis paused as the sunlight glinted off of the mare's horn, marking her as at least part unicorn.

There was nothing to indicate that he had been seen by the mare and Nemesis wondered if the old routine of pretending to need assistance would work on this one. Already he was transfixed by the outside beauty of the mare. Father would be pleased if this mare contained inner beauty as well. Figuring that he had spent enough time in the shadows, Nemesis inhaled deeply before stepping out of the darkness that concealed him. His eyes lit on the mare scrutinizing her with a critical eye before he heard her questioning tone of speech.

Intelligence shown through the mare's eyes as Nemesis stared mutely at this vision. Hastily before this encounter faded to another missed chance the stallion moved to block the mare's path. Something was clamoring in his mind and he felt almost detached as his mind snapped. "Who are you to trespass on my father's land?"

The words ended on a snarl as Nemesis lost whatever civility he had. He swiped at the mare without warning.  

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In the polite order of things Jesenya would have backed down from this over aggressive stallion. It would have been the right thing to do in her eyes but that all changed when he leaped forward and tried slashing at her with wicked looking claws on his front hooves. That had shifted the encounter so that she viewed it as one who was trying to survive. In order to do that she had to fight back.

That would have worked well in her favor if she actually knew about defending herself. As it was though Jesenya could barely hold off two mini attackers. She had not really fared well against those two strange minis that thought they were Kalona. Shaking her head in disbelief at her rotten luck Jesenya darted away from the incoming stallion before lowering her head so that her horn flashed about in warning. Tackling another individual, even if he did seem to mean her harm, was not in her agenda. Perhaps talking would work and she could assuage this individual's worries that she had had no intention of trespassing.

After a few moments of silence in which Jesenya struggled with how to start she finally managed to find her voice.

"I did not mean to trespass. Please believe me when I say that I had no idea this land is claimed. Attacking me will not solve anything. I can leave right away if you let me."

Jesenya was banking on the fact that perhaps this stallion would just let her leave unscathed. She hoped for something as simple as that as she brought her gaze to rest on the stranger.  

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The fact of the matter was that Nemesis just didn't care for excuses at the moment. He barely glanced at the mare as she hastily backed away from his sudden attack. The words she spoke sounded sincere but he had orders to follow. This mare would be brought before his father for evaluation. If it turned out that she was not a good choice well then it would be a no harm, no foul situation. If it turned out that she was good for the family well then it wouldn't be an easy time for her. It would be even harder if she resisted.

But first he needed to secure her. Nemesis advanced languorously on his target. He was watching to see if she did anything but talk.  

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Why was he still coming towards her? Jesenya wasn't sure that there was anything else she could do to reason with the stallion. She had explained herself and she knew that if it came to a fight that she would lose. Was running the only option left open to her now?

Not waiting for anything Jesenya turned her back to the stallion and started moving away from him. She needed to move quickly to get away from the danger that she realized that she was suddenly in. Her heart began to pound harder in her fright as she sprinted away from the clearing and back into the forest.

It would have been an easy job to flee had it not been for the rotten log that she stumbled over. Jesenya felt herself pitch forward towards the ground and she hit the forest floor hard. Breathless from the impact it was all she could do to raise her head to watch the stranger emerge to stand over her. Her eyes widened in fear as he placed his strange clawed foot against her neck. He wouldn't kill her, would he?  

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Nemesis almost smiled at the sudden turn in the mare's fortune. It seemed as if he owed thanks to the rotten log that he now calmly stepped over. Instead he prepared himself for any last ditch effort the mare might have up her proverbial sleeves. When nothing seemed to come from her Nemesis grimaced. All this needless pent up energy and nothing to release it on. This was hardly a chore anymore. Instead he needed to think on how he would secure this mare.

As he stood over her with his clawed foot resting all too lightly on her neck Nemesis was struck by the fear radiating off his target. Inwardly he cringed before gently placing a little more pressure on her neck before lifting his foot off. In a rough voice he spoke, "Get off the ground but stay still after and you won't be harmed."  

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The pressure on that was imposed on her neck increased and Jesenya let out a small gurgle of fear before the sensation decreased. The half-uni mare looked into eyes that were of the brightest yellow that were half hidden behind a strange object. Hearing the instructions given to her by the strange stallion Jesenya realized that she was free to move.

Knowing that it would be better to adhere to the stallion she rolled to her feet and stood up. Her legs quivered a little but she remained in place. However it did not stop her gaze from roaming over the stranger. How was it that she had gotten herself into this mess? Her mind was racing. She wanted to run but she did not wish for harm to befall her. The threat lingered as the stallion moved around her. Jesenya's eyes caught on the seemingly mangled wings before she gave a soft sigh. What was going to happen to her now?  

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There was a scowl on the stallion's face as he watched the mare get to her feet. Satisfied that he had sufficiently cowled any resistance that she might have put forward at the moment Nemesis scanned the surrounding area. What he didn't see was anything that he could use to keep this mare near his side for the trip home. Perhaps there was no need but Nemesis knew better not to place any trust in the idea that the mare would stay close at hand.

Finding nothing that was of use Nemesis returned to face the mare. To his surprise she had yet to move a muscle. He gave a long sigh before toughening his mental fortitude. His voice, when he spoke, was coarse. "This is what will happen. You will accompany me as I return to speak with my father. If you try to run off I will not be at all pleased. You have trespassed and now the family will pass judgement on you."

Nemesis looked over the mare before looking at her in the eye, "I hope I have made myself clear. Now, what is your name mare?"

 

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Jesenya trembled on shaking limbs as the stallion paced around the clearing. It seemed as if he was looking for something. Her breathing began to even out as her own eyes followed the stranger's movements. What was going on here? She had had no idea that this area was underneath claim by others. She flicked her tail before realizing that the stallion was returning to stand before her. The monotone voice in which he spoke to her gave her chills. As he laid down the conditions of what would happen she nodded mutely.

Her gaze lowered to the ground before hearing the stallion request her name. "Why do you want to know that?"

Jesenya's gaze rose slightly before she gave a weary sigh. It would not do well to antagonize this stallion. "I'm Jesenya."  

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Filing the mare's name away for later use Nemesis Dazbog mentally tried to fortify himself for the journey to come. It was true that he would not have to travel too far to reach the central location to the family's claimed area but he was uncertain if the mare would actually try to escape or not. At the moment it seemed as if he had cowed her sufficiently to leave her alone to her own devices. The threat of running her down had not entirely been an idle one though. He had razor sharp claws on his front feet and although he was not the most deadly of his siblings, or the rest of his family, he was certainly an able-bodied fighter and one that unpredictable at the best of times.

Looking over the mare Jesenya once more ... Nemesis could not hide the self-satisfied smile that overcame him. Surely Horus could not find fault with this saccharine sweet mare.

 

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It was the certain act of knowing that something bad awaited her if she tried to run that kept Jesenya rooted in place. The mare had once done battle with a pair of problematic mini Soquili that had caused her to rethink the idea of fighting back. With a stallion such as the one that currently had claim over her actions she knew that fighting back would be utterly useless. She needed her wits about her instead it seemed. If anything positive could be said for this encounter so far it was that she was really attempting to keep a level head. Fear kept on trying to grab purchase in her mind but Jesenya could not let that emotion rule her. She needed to remain calm and follow the instructions that had been dictated to her.

Noting that the stallion was once again appraising her Jesenya shuddered briefly before staring straight back at what she would begin to identify solely as her captor. He had yet to give out his name and thus her captor he would remain until otherwise.  

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The fear Nemesis had once sensed rolling off the mare had ceased for an inexplicable reason. Nemesis was puzzled at first by this realization but figured it did not matter that she was no longer afraid. He had yet to sense that she would make a run for it and in a sense even though the scent of fear was gone he could not help but feel that she had ceded to his demands that she not rebel at all. Indeed if her docile behavior was not an act than it was all for the better.

Approaching Jesenya's side Nemesis gave the mare a nudge on her side in order to get her to start moving. He growled a soft warning as they began to exit the clearing, "You best stay close to me and not try anything funny. You do not want to rile my anger."
 

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The initial reaction to her captor's nudge against her side was to immediately bolt away from the clearing and free herself from this miniature nightmare that she found herself unable to wake from. The thinly veiled threat that was growled to her from the stallion kept her plodding along complacently. Jesenya hated herself for feeling like the most unprepared individual in a crisis but there was nothing she could do about it now. Technically if what the stallion had told her was true she was guilty of crossing into some other family's territory.

If the following was untrue then was she the biggest fool in history for falling for it? Somehow the mare could not shake the feeling of impending doom that washed over her. The need for preservation at the moment dictated that she do what her captor wanted her to do. It seemed very likely that he would easily just as kill her if she tried to run.